Home · 2013 Ford Explorer Police Intercept · Complaints

What 2,224 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Explorer Police Intercept

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (2,224)Crash / fire / injury (78)Steering (832)Body & structure (436)Engine (224)Electrical system (160)Fuel system (153)Transmission & drivetrain (119)Suspension (79)Engine & cooling (67)Visibility & wipers (62)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (45)

436 of 2,224 complaints match · Body & structure · clear filters · page 15 of 18

Jun 27, 2017Body & structure

"TAKATA RECALL" I PURCHASED A 2013 FORD EXPLORER AND THE WINDSHIELD PILLAR HAS COMPLETELY FLOWN OFF WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD , I HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE FIXED AND 2 DAYS LATER THE PASSENGERS SIDE FLEW OFF. THANKS GOODNESS THIS DID NOT CAUSE A WRECK. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL I HAVE SEEN LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS, AND IT COST AROUND 400 TO FIX. ATTACHED IS A PICTURE OF ONE SIDE BEFORE IT FLEW OFF

NHTSA ODI 11001605

Jun 27, 2017Body & structure

THE PAINT ON THE HOOD IS BUBBLING AND PEELING OFF. IT HAS NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE BRINE OR WEATHER.

NHTSA ODI 11001715

Jun 21, 2017Body & structure

MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE. HOWEVER, LAST WEEKEND DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, MY BOYFRIEND AND I HEAR THIS LOUD "THUMP". BOTH OF US THOUGHT MAYBE A BIRD HIT US OR SOMETHING BECAUSE THERE HADN'T BEEN ANYTHING IN THE ROAD. SO WE PULL OF THE HIGHWAY AT THE NEXT EXIT, GET OUT TO EXPECT FEATHERS, BUT INSTEAD FIND THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDSHIELD PILLAR TRIM MOLDING WAS COMPLETELY GONE. HAD BEEN RIPPED OFF BY THE WIND - WHICH IT WASN'T EVEN WINDY THAT DAY, JUST THE WIND OF GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. DROPPED IT OFF TO THE DEALERSHIP LAST NIGHT TO BE FIXED AND THEY TOLD US THIS IS A "COMMON ISSUE" WITH THE EXPLORERS! HOW CAN THIS BE A COMMON ISSUE AND NO FIX IN PLACE??? IT IS IN FOR SERVICE NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP AND I'M STILL WAITING TO HEAR IF THIS IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR NOT.

NHTSA ODI 11000407

Jun 20, 2017Electrical systemBody & structure

"TAKATA RECALL" I PURCHASED A 2013 FORD EXPLORER NEW WITH 6 MILES I CURRENTLY HAVE 59900 MILES AND DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDSHIELD TRIM FLEW OFF BY ITSELF WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE. THANKFULLY DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WE ONLY HEARD IT FLEW OFF WE DIDN'T KNOW IT HAD UNTIL WE STOPPED, AND NOTICED THIS TO IT IT STILL HAS THE ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD AND I TOOK TO RICH FORD WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND WAS TOLD IT CAME UNGLUED ! I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE BEFORE AND HAVE OWNED SEVERAL PRE-OWNED CARES WITHOUT ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING MY CAR INTERIOR HAS CRACKED AT THE SEAM AGAIN THIS IS A 4 YR YEAR OLD CAR WITH NO OTHER DAMAGE I JUST HAVE A LITTLE TEAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WHERE THE DOOR HANDEL IS. I HAVE HAD THE LOCKS ON THE PASSENGER DOOR FIXED TWICE IT STOPS WORKING DUE TO MECHANICAL ERROR YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK IT THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AS WE KNOW THAT ARE CARS NEED TO BE LOCKED IN MOTION AND WHEN WE PARK. THIS I HAVE 2 SEPARATE INVOICE FOR FIXED AT QUICK LANES AT RICH FORD IN ALBUQ,NM NONE OF THESE ISSUES HAVE RECALLS ON THEM

NHTSA ODI 11000185

Jun 19, 2017Body & structure

THE PASSENGER SIDE 'A' PILLAR PLASTIC COVER FLEW OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEED. CARS BEHIND ME SWERVED AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT. THE RUBBER GASKET WAS DANGLING AND CONSEQUENTLY BLOCKING THE PASSENGER REAR VIEW SIDE MIRROR. FORD IS STATING THAT IT 'IS NOT A FACTORY DEFECT' AND CONSEQUENTLY I SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT (EVEN THOUGH I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, AND ALSO PURCHASED THEIR 'PREMIUM CARE WARRANTY.) THE CAR HAS 40K MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11000023

Jun 16, 2017Body & structure

THE FRONT EDGE OF MY HOOD IS NOW CORRODED ALL THE WAY ACROSS MY ALUMINUM HOOD. THERE ARE MULTIPLE 'RUST' BUBBLES AND NOW PAINT IS FALLING OFF. THE REST OF THE CAR IS PRETTY MUCH IMMACULATE.

NHTSA ODI 10995459

Jun 2, 2017Body & structure

WINDSHIELD TRIM FLEW OFF. PASSENGER SIDE AT 42,000 DRIVER SIDE AT 53,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 10992897

May 28, 2017Body & structure

BLACK WINDOW TRIM ON DRIVERS SIDE BLUE OFF WHILE AT SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE OTHER SIDE BLEW OFF APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS AGO. BOTH INSTANCES WERE REPAIRED AT FUTURE FORD IN CLOVIS CA. I LIVE IN VERY HOT SUMMER ENVIRONMENT. I FEEL THE SUN IS BAKING THE BLACK WINDOW TRIMS AND CAUSING THE RETAINING CLIPS, AND ADHESIVE, TO WEAKEN. BOTH TIMES HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN A STRONG CROSSWIND IN THE LATE MORNING. TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE 80'S. THIS TIME, WAS IN THE EARLY MORNING, APPROXIMATELY 0830. THE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE HIGH 60'S.

NHTSA ODI 10991964

May 14, 2017Body & structure

PAINT IS CHIPPING AND FLAKING OFF FROM UNDER THE PAINT. BUBBLES ARE FORMING ALONG THE EDGE OF FRONT HOOD AND TAIL HATCH.

NHTSA ODI 10985589

Apr 26, 2017Body & structure

MY DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS ONLY OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. MY BACK PASSENGER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN AT ALL. I'VE HAD THE FRONT LOCKS GREASED AND THEY STILL ONLY OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. SO TO GET IN THE VEHICLE, YOU HAVE TO UNLOCK IT, OPEN BACK DRIVER SIDE DOOR, REACH IN AND OPEN DRIVER DOOR AND THEN PASSENGER FROM INSIDE. NO MECHANIC I'VE SPOKEN WITH OR TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET IN THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR INCLUDING THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI 10980948

Apr 23, 2017Body & structure

PAINT BUBBLES PUSHING UP ON HOOD

NHTSA ODI 10980004

Apr 6, 2017Body & structure

RUST AND PAINT BUBBLED ALONG FRONT EDGE OF HOOD.

NHTSA ODI 10970981

Mar 28, 2017Body & structure

PAINT BUBLING AT HOOD FRONT EDGE

NHTSA ODI 10968922

Mar 23, 2017Body & structure

THE RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER WINDSHIELD MOULDING FLEW OFF OF MY CAR WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY I BELIEVE- HEARD A SOUND BUT DID NOT REALIZE WHAT HAPPENED. THIS IS NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. THERE IS NOW DAMAGE TO THE SIDE DOOR WHERE IT HIT THE CAR. I WAS TOLD BY THE FORD DEALER THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THEY HAVE SEEN HAPPEN BUT FORD HAS NOT DONE A RECALL. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DANGER OF THIS PART FLYING OFF A CAR.

NHTSA ODI 10968209

Mar 22, 2017Body & structure

RECENTLY, ON THE HOOD OF MY CAR, THE PAINT HAS STARTED BUBBLING. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND FORD ISSED TSB ABOUT IT. I HAVE NOT CHOICE BUT TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HOOD AS THERE IS NO WAY TO REPAIR THESE AREAS.

NHTSA ODI 10967780

Mar 18, 2017Body & structureEngine

WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED AND WITH 48 HOURS NOTICED AN EXHAUST SMELL INSIDE CABIN WHEN SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN.

NHTSA ODI 10966716

Mar 16, 2017Electrical systemBody & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER DOOR FAILED TO CLOSE CORRECTLY. THE CONTACT WOULD CLOSE AND LOCK THE DOORS; HOWEVER, THE OVERHEAD LIGHT AND THE WARNING INDICATOR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE DOORS WERE NOT CLOSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO CLOSE THE DOOR SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL THE LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ODI 10966335

Mar 12, 2017Body & structure

THE PAINT ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE HOOD STARTED BUBBLING AFTER ABOUT 2 YEARS. AFTER 3 YEARS THE PAINT STARTED COMING OFF. CURRENTLY THERE ARE 3 DIME SIZED SPOTS WHERE THE PAINT HAS COME OFF EXPOSING THE CORRODED METAL HOOD. IT APPEARS THE HOOD WAS NOT PROPERLY PREPPED BEFORE PAINT. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM ON FORD VEHICLES AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI 10960190

Mar 8, 2017Body & structure

THE WINDSHIELD TRIM ON MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MARCH 4TH. THE NEXT DAY, THE RIGHT/PASSENGER SIDE FLEW OFF AS WELL. NEITHER TIME WAS I HIT OR HIT ANYTHING. MANY PEOPLE HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO THEIR EXPLORER, YET FORD TRIED TO CHARGE ME $700 FOR REPAIRS. I DO NOT BELIEVE I AM LIABLE FOR THIS AND I ALSO BELIEVE AN INCIDENT LIKE THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE AND/OR HURT ANOTHER DRIVER IF THEY HAD BEEN BEHIND ME.

NHTSA ODI 10959569

Feb 21, 2017Body & structure

PAINT BUBBLING AND FLAKING ON THE HOOD.

NHTSA ODI 10955723

Nov 30, 2016Body & structure

CONTAMINATION OF THE METAL IN THE HOOD AT THE FACTORY IS CAUSING THE PAINT TO BUBBLE AND FLAKE OFF.

NHTSA ODI 10928893

Oct 30, 2016Electrical systemBody & structure

MY CAR REGULARLY SHOWS THAT THE DRIVER DOOR IS AJAR. IT WILL NOT REGISTER THAT IT CLOSES, AND WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO LOCK THE DOOR. THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND I MUST REPEATEDLY OPEN AND SHUT THE DOOR INDEFINITELY UNTIL IT FINALLY REGISTERS THAT THE DOOR IS CLOSED. THIS FAULTY DOOR SENSOR/LATCH ISSUE HAS BEEN RECALLED ON OTHER FORD MODELS BUT NOT THE EXPLORER YET TO MY KNOWLEDGE. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BOTH PARKED AND IN MOTION. I NOTED THE MOST RECENT DATE ON THE CALENDAR BUT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW.

NHTSA ODI 10920091

Oct 15, 2016Body & structure

AT A SPEED OF 65 TO 70 MPH ON INDIANA HYW 31 A VERY LOUD SOUND SHOOK MY CAR--I THOUGHT I HAD HIT SOMETHING--LOOKING VIA THE REAL VIEW MIRROR I SAW THE CAR FOLLOWING ME JERK INTO THE OTHER LANE--I PUT ON MY WARNING FLASHERS AND PULLED OVER AS DID THE CAR FOLLOWING ME. THE YOUNG MAN THOUGHT I HAD THROWN SOMETHING OUT MY WINDOW WHICH BOUNCED OFF THIS WINDSHIELD--HE WAS NOT AT ALL HAPPY!!!!! WHAT HAD HAPPENED WAS THE BIG BLACK WINDSHIELD MOLDING- DRIVER SIDE----APPROX. 3 X 37 IN LONG BROKE OFF FROM MY CAR FLEW BACK AND BOUNCED OFF THIS WINDSHIELD. WE COULD NOT SEE ANY DAMAGE TO HIS CAR. HE TOLD ME HE ONLY SAW THIS BIG BLACK SOMETHING ABOUT TO HIT HIM AND JERKED THE WHEEL INTO THE LEFT LANE. ON INSPECTION OF MY CAR 4 OF THE 8 HOLD POINTS WERE MISSING--IT APPEARS THE MOLDING AT THE HOOD POINTS LET LOOSE WHICH CAUSED THE REST OF THE BIG MOLDING TO TEAR LOOSE.

NHTSA ODI 10916252

Oct 12, 2016Electrical systemBody & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR SENSOR FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY, AND THE INTERNAL LIGHTING REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND DRAINED THE BATTERY. THE CHIME SOUNDED EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE DOOR MAY BE OPEN WHEN IT WAS CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE ONE DEALER TWICE AND THE SENSORS WERE CLEANED. WITHIN A YEAR OF THE FIRST REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE DEALER CLEANED OR REPLACED THE SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE FIRST DEALER AGAIN AND THEN A SECOND DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10915617

Oct 5, 2016Body & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. AFTER IT RAINED, THE VEHICLE ACCUMULATED WATER ON THE INTERIOR PASSENGER FLOOR, THE SEAT BELTS WERE SATURATED, AND WATER ENTERED THROUGH THE VENTS AND POURED OUT FROM THE HEADLIGHTS. WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP, THE CONTACT HEARD THE SOUND OF WATER THROUGHOUT THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO OBSERVED THE SMELL OF MOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000.

NHTSA ODI 10914084

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How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Ford Explorer Police Intercept verdict →